MLB Playoffs

The Rockies and Padres kickoff the playoffs tonight with one game to see who gets to play the Phillies in the NLDS. Let's imagine that you're the manager of the Padres. You know that if you win the game in Milwaukee, you're in the NLDS playoffs and will play at Philadelphia on Wednesday. If you lose and the Rockies win, you're playing 1 game in Colorado just to get into the NLDS. Why would you not send Jake Peavy, the 2007 NL Cy Young Award winner, out against the Brewers? Why would you send out your 2nd best option and leave it up to 1 game just to get into the NLDS? Why save him?

If Peavy had pitched that game and won, not only do you avoid a 1 game playoff tonight, you still have him available for game 2 in Philly and possibly game 5. By saving him for tonight, you only get 1 game in the NLDS out of him. What am I missing here?

From Gattaca:

"You want to know how I did it? This is how I did it, Anton: I never saved anything for the swim back."

I'm going to call the Padres Anton until proven wrong. They're saving something for the swim back, which doesn't work against Vincent, who's giving everything he has without regard for the swim back. Even if the Pads beat the Rockies, they won't beat the Phillies with that type of play.

 

I went out to the San Diego Union Tribune website and found this.

"Manager Bud Black had said ace Jake Peavy would pitch on short rest today only if the Padres needed to win to reach the playoffs. Because the Padres would survive a defeat, Black instead will start Brett Tomko."

Jake Peavy was going to go on short rest against the Brewers, but if you have a choice between a Brewers team that's playing out the season, or a Rockies team that would be playing with a sense of desperation, which would you choose? Besides that, the Brewers rested Prince Fielder on Sunday.

The Pads played to save something for the swim back, but there will be no swim back.

It's so nice to be right once in a while. :laugh:

Fearless AL Predictions

Red Sox vs. Angels
Starting Pitching - I like Beckett slightly over Lackey; Escobar over Matsuzaka; and even though I'm fond of Weaver (mostly because he won my fantasy baseball season for me this year), Schilling is the ultimate big-game pitcher. Advantage to the Sox.

Offense - The Angels have Vlad the Impaler and not much else. Figgins has struggled lately and Garret Anderson has cooled off. The Red Sox have Big Papi and ManRam. Mike Lowell has been terrific in September and Youkilis and his beard are back. From top to bottom, I like the Red Sox lineup.

Bullpen - If they had to rely on Eric Gagne as their main setup guy, the Sox would be in trouble. But, it looks like Okajima's back, tipping the scales back to Boston.

Too much starting pitching, offense and bullpen for the Angels.

Red Sox in 3.


Yankees vs. Indians
Pitching - The Indians have Sabathia and Carmona. The Yankees have Pettite and Wang. They also have 2 young guys that should be sensational in the playoffs in 2008, 2009 and beyond, but I'm not sold on them being good in the 2007 postseason. They also have 65 year old Roger Clemens and looks-washed-up Mike Mussina, who closed out the season by being terrible, followed by being good, followed by being terrible. Indians have the advantage.

Offense - Is there ever a season where the Yankees don't have the edge on offense?

Bullpen - I suspect that most taters will give the edge to the Yankees because of Rivera, but he doesn't look invincible anymore. Of course, Borowski and his bloated ERA shouldn't give much confidence to Cleveland fans. I'm guessing that if I ask webdog what he fears most about the Indians, it's got to be Borowski. So, what about it, webdog? Does Borowski have a great chance to be the death of this team?

The Yankees' lack of starting pitching is going to bite them yet again.

Indians in 4.


Fearless NL Predictions

Diamondbacks vs. Cubs
Starting Pitching - Zambrano closed out the season well, but Webb has been hittable since his 42 inning stretch. I'm not terribly excited by Ted Lilly and Jason Marquis, but I'm less excited about Doug Davis and Livan Hernandez. I think Zambrano gives the Cubs the edge.

Offense - As he usually does, Eric Byrnes fell off in the 2nd half of the season, though not as much as usual. The Snakes have some nice players, but I like the Cubs' offense.

Bullpen - Valverde gives Arizona a slight advantage, but it's not like Kyle Farnsworth is back there blowing saves for the Cubs anymore.

Arizona has allowed more runs than they've scored. Somehow, they got away with it in the regular season, but they won't in the postseason.

Cubs in 3.

Phillies vs. Rockies
Starting Pitching - Neither staff is particularly strong, and Hamels gives the Phils the advantage.

Offense - A wash. Both teams can mash.

Bullpen - A wash because neither bullpen is great.

Both teams were fantastic over the last 2 weeks just to get into the playoffs. This series should be a high-scoring slugfest. If this were a football game, you'd probably just call this a pick 'em game. But, since these are fearless predictions, I call a winner.

Phillies in 5.

 

Garrett Atkins hit the HR that wasn't.

 

Why would you want it stretched out to 5 games? Why not root for the sweep? I just don't think much of this Yankees team and I think they're getting too much credit just because they're wearing the pinstripes.